Seoul summit: UAE calls attention to nuclear security in Arab region

الاثنين 2012/03/26

We seek to establish peace, security and stability

SEOUL - More than 50 heads of state and government are attending the Seoul summit, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The Nuclear Safety Summit is the second meeting of world leaders on preventing nuclear weapons and material from falling into the hands of militants. The first was held in Washington in 2010.
Sheikh Mohammed has stressed that the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) represents a fundamental part of international efforts to eliminate the threats arising from the misappropriation of nuclear materials and technology, including the threat of "nuclear terrorism."
The UAE delegation includes Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority (EAA), Nasser Ahmed Al Suweidi, chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under-Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, Abdulla Khalfan Al Rumaithi, UAE ambassador to South Korea and Ambassador Hamad Al Ka’abi, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Sheikh Mohammed said that “the UAE's attendance is based on the keenness of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, to stay well informed about the experiences of other countries”.
He stressed Emiratis’ desire “to play a positive role in contributing to providing the required protection to nuclear materials and facilities, in order to provide the highest degree of security and safety”.
Speaking of the UAE participation in the summit, Sheikh Mohammed said, “this participation comes against the backdrop of growing leadership by the UAE in adopting and implementing the highest international standards in its own domestic nuclear energy sector and demonstrates our resolve to be an active partner in the international community, as we seek to establish peace, security and stability in the Middle East and the world at large”.
“We hope that our participation in this summit with other countries will contribute effectively to the improvement of international policies for technical and legal procedures in order to counter the different potential threats of nuclear terrorism and prevent nuclear and other radioactive materials from falling into the hands of extremist groups and outlaws; in addition to preventing the illegal trafficking of nuclear materials,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“The United Arab Emirates is hopeful that this international summit will result in realistic and practical decisions and recommendations, in addition to the international community adopting practical policies that will achieve the security and humanitarian goals of Seoul summit," he added.
The UAE has signed all related international agreements and initiatives on nuclear security. The UAE has also introduced new legislations regarding nuclear security and carried out a slew of nuclear security activities at national and international levels.
Technically, the UAE has conducted an array of workshops and meetings on nuclear security and lent its substantial support for activities organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for enhancing nuclear security and preparing integrated plans for nuclear security.
The UAE also adopts programmes for training and building capacities of nuclear security professionals. In this respect, Abu Dhabi hosted in March 2010 the International Conference on Human Resource Development for Introducing and Expanding Nuclear Power Programmes.
The UAE has also adopted a package of regulations to guarantee high level regulation of nuclear security.
The UAE is also a key participant at the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB) involving unauthorized possession and related criminal activities, theft or loss of nuclear or other radioactive materials.